Patents of Interest to Builders.

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 4, 1 December 1918, Page 390

Patents of Interest to Builders.

Concrete Pipes, Joining. A patent No. 4087 has been taken »u*. by W. R. Hume, of South Australia, for rendering the joints at" concrete pipes watertight under high pressure, a plastic Jement, composed of animal pitch, resin, sulphur, and oil, is foiced between the abutting pipe ends, which are held in alignment by an adjustable ring and surrouded by a concrete collar. With the first length of pipe a and collar d in position, semi-dry cement and sand is rammed half way round the inside of the collar by a laterally curved rammer and is then screeded. On the end of the pipe a is placed a ring of cement, made by heating 100 lbs. of animal pitch to .°»so° F. with the addition of 40 lbs:, of resin, then incorporating 10 lbs. of sulphur after fooling to 300° F., and finally adding H gallons of oil to render hue mixture plastic.

The adjacent pipe c is placed in abutment and held in alignment by the lower portion g of the adjustable support e , while the cementing material is rammed flush with the collar end. To ascertain if the joint is at the centre line of the collar, an iron flanged band with hinged gauge arms may be attached to one of the pipes. In a modification, the parts e and g of the supporting ring, instead of being looped at h, are hinged at one side and provided with a drop loop at the opposite side. Concrete Decoration. —A patent No. 39450 has been taken out by Mr. J. Campbell, Govt. Archt., for an artificial Brecia 0.decorative permanent finishing material for concrete or brick

columns forming and applying in situ. The method consists in applying a finishing layer of decorative concrete cast in situ by the use of an outer and inner mould securing the retention of the

marble, or other aggregate on the surface, in the outer mould, and a strong adhesive cement backing in thp inner mould, whereby it is permanently attached to 'column or wall-surface.

Concrete Ship, Barge, &c.—A. patent No. 40432 has been taken out by E. 0. Williams of London which should interest concrete boat builders. According to this invention, the exterior or interior walls of ships and other floating structures are provided with cavities arranged so that they may be accessible and, if necessary, may be filled in with concrete or any suitable hard-setting, dense

composition in' order to strengthen the -structure at that particular place if damaged or weakened due to any unforeseen cause. These cavities, preferably formed between double slabs, arc separated one from the other by webs, and normally are sealed at both their upper and lower ends, but are accessible by removable plugs or the like, which may be inserted or built into

the concrete, preferably at or in close proximity to the upper or lower extremities of each cavity, so that by removing the requisite plug any collected moisture in the cavity may be readily drained off. The webs between the cavities and integral with the walls may be arranged to separate the cavities both in vertical and horizontal directions, and, together with the walls, are properly reinforced, so that the walls thus constructed form, in the true sense, girders or beams adapted to take any lateral loading and readily and effectually to resist any stresses to which they may he subjected. Moreover, by providing for a suitable communication between the cavities it is possible to use the latter, if necessary, for water, ballast; for instance, in the case of a double-bottom ship where the double bottom is used for that purpose.

Morris Chair. —A patent Ho. 40029 has been taken out' by A. P. Pritchard, 510 Southampton St., Hastings, for a Morris chair which comprises an arrangement of legs and an justable stay hinged respectively to top and bottom rails of the back of

Morris chair, such arrangement, when required, to form a stand or support to the back of the chair when such back is to be used as a lounge, when a greater angle than that provided for by the

ordinary arrangement on a Morris chair. A folding arrangement attached to ordinary Morris chair, on one or both sides, hinged and fitting neatly to side or sides of such chairs for use when required as paper and book rack or racks. Reefing Tile. A patent No. 15389 has been taken out by The Petrous Tile Co., Ltd. to provide a roofing tile or like slab, having a smooth surface adapted to be polished, silicious materials, such as sand and pebbles, and tarred blue metal screenings, in which the tar has perished, are ground to a lino powder, mixed with cement and water, and reinforced with hair or fibre. Cement work, Attachment for. A patent No. 5042 has been taken out by E. .1. Hall, of N.S.W., for an attachment to secure

articles to concrete walls or the like, a cast metal or coiled wire anchorage 4 is embedded in the wall to form a screw thread for a coach screw.